Abstract: TH-PO441
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Utilization and Behaviors in Adults with ADPKD
Session Information
- Genetic Diseases: Cystic - Therapeutic Investigations and Prognosis
November 02, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Genetic Diseases of the Kidneys
- 1201 Genetic Diseases of the Kidneys: Cystic
Authors
- Atalla, Anthony, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Shetty, Alok, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Watnick, Terry J., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Seliger, Stephen L., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Background
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on those with chronic diseases was pervasive, affecting healthcare seeking behaviors, and medication and access to care. The impact of COVID-19 on adults with ADPKD is uncertain.
Methods
Participants were recruited from 223 adult ADPKD patients without ESRD in a study at the University of Maryland. N=66 patients participated in a questionnaire from July 2022-December 2022 about PKD-related complications, COVID infections, healthcare seeking behaviors, and care avoidance before and after March 2020.
Results
N=34(51.5%) of participants reported a positive COVID-19 test result. N=29(44%) reported frequent concern about contracting COVID-19. Those who avoided medical care at least once (n = 17, 26%) had similar demographics and PKD severity to those who did not but reported greater telehealth utilization and use of non-prescribed medication for COVID-19 prevention. They were also more likely to have contracted COVID-19 (Table). Among the N=53 who reported very good or excellent PKD disease management pre-pandemic, N=47(94%) reported no significant change during the pandemic.
Conclusion
Among a sample of ADPKD patients with well-managed disease, there was no significant decline in self-reported PKD management during the pandemic. However,more than 1 in 4 reported avoidance of care and were more likely to have utilized telehealth and been infected with COVID-19. Future studies should investigate care avoidance in PKD patients whose care is not as easily transitioned to telehealth.
Characteristics of Participants with and without new avoidance of healthcare during COVID pandemic
| No avoidance (n=49) | Healthcare avoidance (N=17) | p-value | |
| Age (yrs) | 45.5 (14.0) | 47.8 (11.4) | 0.5 |
| Male | 22 (45%) | 7 (41%) | 0.99 |
| White | 44 (90%) | 16 (94%) | 0.99 |
| College Education | 40 (82%) | 15 (88%) | 0.7 |
| eGFR (ml/min/1.73m2) | 77.9 (32.4) | 67.6 (31.2) | 0.3 |
| htTKV (cc/m) | 670 [439, 1279] | 838.6 [658.2, 1108.9] | 0.3 |
| Flank Pain | 21 (43%) | 9 (53%) | 0.6 |
| UTIs | 24 (49%) | 12 (71%) | 0.3 |
| Often or Always Concerned about COVID | 21 (43%) | 8 (47%) | 0.8 |
| Use of non-prescribed meds for COVID prevention | 4 (8%) | 6 (35%) | 0.01* |
| COVID infection during pandemic | 21 (43%) | 13 (77%) | 0.02* |
| Telehealth Use during pandemic | 21 (43%) | 13 (77%) | 0.002* |
Cell values represent mean(SD), median[IQR], or N(%)
Funding
- NIDDK Support